February Non-Stop

Whew! February just isn't quitting. Maybe it gets hyperstimulated because it wants to have as much stuff crammed into it as its neighbors January and March. Makes it hard for me to retrieve the threads of all that is going on.

The various pictures in my library and some posted by others is giving me plenty to think about and to share. First, there is Keoni's Iowa story--literally--in Burlington's The Hawk Eye article, "Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra Brings Love and Warm Breezes to Town". His name appears about halfway down the article.

As an aside, it's great seeing a smaller town newspaper thriving in the mega-media shift going on in our electronic world.

Sandy drove up to attend the concert in Iowa from the St. Louis area and Jeanenne and Larry drove up, too.

Sandy shared some photos and video...

This one flips sideways for about a half-minute, or so, then settles back to horizontal.

...and Keoni had some time with his Missouri aunts and uncle...

Jeanenne, Keoni, Sandy, and Larry.

Here's a good place to go out of the general timeline...when Sandy was home again she drew this...

Back to Iowa: Keoni had a loaner car for visiting the area schools giving music demos and talks for students. He stopped for a little site-seeing here and there...





He has more about his Iowa adventures on Facebook.

While the Iowa adventures were going on we had a very sodden snowfall that bowed trees and power lines. When it began, it was evening and a very strange light made the outdoors sort of glow...

This is at 8 p.m. No, it isn't edited. It snowed on all night. It was my good fortune that it was also about 34 degrees so never piled up against the house foundation which requires some shoveling; instead, there was a six-inch melted border all along the foundation.

The lilac bush in the side yard.

Much of the remainder of the time was spent gathering information and filling out forms for possible senior housing. Akin to doing taxes five times in one year, it gobbled up just over two weeks and another day to go over the results with the housing coordinator so she can clear away all doubt for all time that I am an honest, bill-paying, upstanding citizen who hasn't had and won't have wild parties or run a meth lab in the bathroom.

Then, I really did do my taxes.

***

There was sad news from Wendy that barn kitty Patches had died. She was one of the three that came with the property when Wendy and John bought it. Wendy thinks Patches was already old at that time. That just leaves Toby as the sole cat resident at the barn. Wendy said he showed signs of missing Patches and sent this forlorn picture of him.

A call came from California and I learned from the daughter of my old friend Gene that she had died. We all knew that Gene's dementia was taking her from us yet it still was particularly sad news. She was a long-lasting, very good friend who had accomplished a great deal in her life coming from a rural, one-room, Missouri schoolhouse to a Chief Nursing Administrator of multi-facility elder care homes while raising three children by herself. She was lovingly cared for by her daughter who said she had red roses she was so fond of by her bedside when she died. Later, that same afternoon I was given a red rose at a store where I stopped in on my way to Ash Wednesday service at church.

In memory of my dear friend Eugenia D'Arlene Huber Chapman.

Sandy took this picture while taking a walk over in Missouri and sent it to me around this time. It is a balm.

***

Yesterday, it was time to go into the city again. Aidan was in his PYO Orchestra Concert at Kimmel Center.

Wendy captured this as they left him off for his 11:15 a.m. call. I met them later when I came on the train.

It is verboten to take performance videos or pictures but I captured this as they were taking a bow.

I think he saw his mom and dad just then.

Life stirs with such great joys and such great sorrows. It makes moments I love into moments all the more to cherish.

Surprise!

One week ago on a Monday morning, Wendy started her barn chores and found a surprise. I went over to the farm to see...

Surprise!

On the saddles Toby registered his non-excitement...

Only a day or so later, Wendy sent this...





So, little Surprise is faring well with his new mama Ophelia.

Then, I got down to brass tacks and began an assemblage of mountainous paperwork for a possible senior housing apartment among the Mennonites of Lansdale. A week later and I'm at the top of a paper mountain starting to descend the downward slope hoping to finish in plenty of time to get ready for Gloria's arrival from Tucson and Marge's arrival from Charleston, which by some unplanned miracle, brings them to Philadelphia International within two hours of each other. Marge will pursue a committment she has here before returning to resume her wintering in Charleston while Gloria and I head to the Philadelphia Flower Show and another day to Longwood Garden's Orchid Extravaganza.

Keoni has been busy visiting Iowa schools. The Ottumwa Courier published a nice story about it. By the week's end another surprise was a text from him that he was on his way to St. Louis with the conductor to hear the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. He texted from there...

Sandy, at some point picked him up and took him out to Jeanenne and Larry's where he stayed the night. (I think.) There, a big bunch of his cousins had quickly gathered for the impromptu visit. Here they are...

The Clark family, and Keoni and Sandy. And that's not all of them! Some were away visiting other grandparents.

Keoni has, no doubt returned to Iowa for the rest of his two-week stay there. Next weekend he'll have three orchestra performances.

This weekend Aidan played in a very enjoyable PMEA Concert. After the concert...

He and his brother are getting together sometime next month and playing at the church here. Keoni will be back on Spring Break. (I think.)

Sandy continues to draw and shared some again...

From her visit to the Flight 93 Memorial here in PA.

Marge takes four-mile walks in Charleston and shared some sights she encounters there...

Back here in PA the seagulls that hang out around a shopping center about a half mile away were grounded in the pouring, 34-degree rain...

It's a couple days ahead, but it's always a good time to send some love your way...

Bliss Visits Philadelphia

What can I say? A rhetorical quandary. The EAGLES WON THE SUPERBOWL!!!! last night. Philadelphia poured back into the streets. Fireworks resounded throughout the region. What a game, what a win!

Now it's a morning of pink clouds, sunlit crystals, and smiles.

Keoni sent this from O'Hare Int'l in Chicago where he was delayed for NINE hours on his trip from Georgia to Iowa. He made it and so did the suitcase.

From Keoni on Sunday waiting in O'Hare.

Around my own environs there were.Eagles shirts everywhere, Eagles flags flying from car windows, green, following the benediction at the end of Sunday's church service the postlude was "Fly Eagles Fly", followed by an irreligious rendition of "Raise You Up on Eagles Wings" by the choir and congregation, and a local Mennonite church displayed Soar with the Eagles on their outdoor message sign.

And, I can anticipate Aidan's district concert and get there with my pony Subaru this coming weekend. It is dead of winter, so I'll not attempt to get to Keoni's two weeks in Iowa that culminate in a weekend of concerts this month. He's soloing with the violin and with the viola. His Aunt Sandy in neighboring state Missouri got tickets and hotel reservations already. Weather is a factor since this is driving from mid-Missouri into Iowa. Here's the website... Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra. Scroll down a little bit to the concerts.

Jeanenne has sewn together the top of the quilt she has been making...

It's king-size so not all visible. You get the idea.

Sandy continues her pencil drawing adventures with a rendering of this latter day of your's truly...

The grey days have outnumbered the sunny, but here and there winter's imprint is, gratefully, illuminated by the sun...

A couple of frozen nests await spring occupancy.

Afternoon with the moon.

On the opposite end of bliss on life's spectrum lies paperwork. There was much. Many days these past two weeks were grey and wanting in splendor. Perhaps a bit of gratitude slipped in, after all; my mind and body can still sift this stuff. And, some Jonquils from friend Pat sat on my desk...

Marching & Catching Up

Friday, January 19, 2018.

As I prepare this evening to purposefully rise tomorrow morning and go march with women in Philadelphia, I am aware that there are friends and loved ones in my life who do not agree with at least one or more of the tenets espoused by the movement. You are my friends and you are my loved ones. We need each other, you and I. I am not going to Philadelphia to support factions. Solving conundrums are for debates yet to come with cooler heads and, I hope, lots more women. I am going to Philadelphia to march in solidarity with half the world's population because to paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, I hold these truths to be self-evident; that all women are created equal. Men, it is self-evident, you are created equal to women.

It is impossible to stand by with two good legs and not march this year. While we are at it, forge ahead, my sisterhood, for sexual respect, for justice, for truth, and don't forget--equal pay for equal work. Support women's leadership in every public institution, every corporation, everywhere--top to bottom--while you're at it.

I've been hearing that so many are disillusioned with politics--that government is not working. Have you heard that, too? Well, the blood has been sucked out of that very honorable profession. Remember, Lincoln was a politician--so was Churchill. It's time to pump our governance full of thousands of informed, dedicated, experienced, positive women who are well-versed in how to work with others, excluding no one. Government is not bad. It's a framework. Plain and simple, it's as good or bad as the people who are in governing roles.

It's young people and especially women in all parts of local, county, state, federal governance, and all parts of commerce, any and all leadership, who will make this a better world for everybody. I am convinced that when we advance to at least a third of legislative and leadership roles filled, top to bottom, by women, there will be a tipping point where our entire culture begins a transformation for the betterment of all citizens--young, old; rich, poor; sick, healthy; one color, or another color; one gender, or another; one faith, or another faith; immigrant, or fifth generation, or Native American. Liberty and Justice for All.

We will do this!

***

Now it's Saturday evening.

It is time to catch up after an electric day in Philly. Transformation was happening on the streets of Philadelphia. Again. Those leaders that formed our nation out of a bunch of colonies must be smiling--Ben up there atop City Hall, too. I admired the exuberance of peaceful protest, and I admired the very large number of men marching right along with the women.

It was the energy of it that was most striking. I couldn't come close to capturing it all. You are welcome to take what you want and leave the rest.

Starting off at Lansdale's SEPTA Regional Rail Station.

After about three more stops the entire train was filled up.

Walking to the start at Logan Square.

This one was a favorite.

Marching.

And it ended up here at the base of the Museum of Art steps. I can hear the Rocky music now.

***

But life is not entirely about marching, though social interaction is part and parcel of who we are. Day-to-day living is the big story.

To catch up with some of my story...

Shoutout to Jeanenne: Happy Birthday! Earlier this week in Missouri, Sandy sent along a picture of the two of them enjoying a birthday lunch together...

Enjoying the dessert together, that is. Yum. 

Jeanenne also not long ago sent a pattern she drew up for a quilt she is making for her eldest and his wife.

For a king sized bed, no less.

And Sandy continues to pick up her pencils and draw. Today, she sent another one of Aidan. She is getting better and better...

From a photo of Aidan playing the cello a couple summers ago.

I found a couple of snowy day remembrances I'd forgotten about. From the last snow...

Peter Cottontail was here.

And, the snow before that I was amazed by the cul de sac snow clearance...man and machine...






As you know, I am ever amazed by the geese around here. This time they were gleaning in a field. I stopped the car for a few seconds...

Queen Anne's Lace in Winter

Well, Keoni made it back to college just ahead of another round of bad weather. I took my pony to get a new battery when the Gear Heads Garage opened up. There weren't many starts left on the battery. You know the sound, rrrr-rrrr-rrrr, and you hope-hope-hope it turns over. So, all's well and the holidays are now but a glow left from the taking down, picking up, putting away.

My Christmas plant life from Marge all lined up to grasp a little morning sunshine--the poinsettias are a little weary. Today, I repotted them all. I will be scouting shelving for them to enjoy a window upstairs.

On the last Sunday he was here, Keoni, with Seth and Peter played the music for the service at church. Here is the Postlude. It's a piece that I love...





Seth at the piano is Assistant Music Director at church, Peter goes to DePauw U, cello performance. Peter's dad tuned the piano--it's his business. The three of these young men make music collaboration plans for when the two students are home for breaks or holidays. It's been great watching/listening to this evolve.

Meanwhile, over in Tucson, Gloria captured a pretty moment.

And that reminds me of excellent news that Gloria will be here at the end of February and early March. It will be such a grand treat to get together. Plans so far are to take in the Philadelphia Flower Show and the Orchid Extravaganza at Longwood Gardens. We have been friends for 47 years.

One of the most interesting happenings of 2017 was that two of my sisters have turned out to be artists. Like a genie emerging from a bottle each took up brush or pencil quite independently of each other and began making art. It's really exciting watching this unfold.

It was hyper-cold last week and now taking a turn at mild again. Glad my pony is ready for the road.

Keoni shared a picture he made on a walk he took at the farm...

--by Keoni

Shoutout to Cousin Jackie: Queen Anne's Lace in winter.